The Colini

(1924 - 2010)

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Exhibition of Colini's Art Opens at Czech Embassy in D.C.!

INVITATION TO ON-GOING EXHIBITION:
The Embassy of the Czech Republic invites you to the exhibition: In Celebration of a Czech Master, featuring the work
of Vojen Wilhelm Cech, better known as Colini, as it continues at the Embassy in the weeks following the opening
starting Friday June 5th.

Vojen Wilhelm Cech - Colini (1927-2010) was drawn to the unique and imaginative qualities of surrealists. As a young man, Colini made monthly visits to Prague and dreamed of becoming a master painter. He became fascinated with Italian art of the
Renaissance period and made his decision to paint only in egg tempera. He began to find ways to expand on the ideas of surrealists by incorporating techniques, iconic places, and characters of the Renaissance into his modern works. Inspired by
Renaissance artists who adopted the names of their home towns, Colini chose to follow this tradition. A native of Kolin, he signed his paintings as "Colini," the name by which he eventually became internationally known.

"His images are from another time, another place. His is a magical world, its landscape strange,
haunting and always enigmatic." — Malcolm Preston, art critic, Newsday.
See full review by Mr. Preston.

Can't make it to Washington?
View a virtual display of the art in this exhibition by clicking here.

Missing the old Virtual Exhibition page?
You can reach it by clicking [and bookmarking?] this link.

Brief Biography of Vojen Wilhelm Cech -- Colini (1924 - 2010)

by PhDr. J. Dvorak (Mrs.) [translated from the Czech]

Colini, born in 1924 in Kolin, Bohemia, first studied art with
professor Kutil, then an exponent of German Expressionism. In 1943,
Colini moved to Prague, where he was exposed to the work of the leading
Czech surrealist, Karel Maly, a disciple of de Chirico.

Leaving Prague in 1947, Colini began a 12 year journey of self
discovery, living in Switzerland, France, West Indies, South America, and
Canada. In 1959 this sojourn came to an end in New York, where he took up
his greatest challenge, that of distilling his rich and haunting life
experiences into graphic images. Since then however, he is returning
frequently to Germany and Italy where he feels equally "at home."

In 1972 Colini was invited to join the Gallery Schreiner in Basel --
which in those times was affiliated to the famous Gallery
Peithner-Lichtenfels from Wien -- and thus was the focus of Ars Fantastica
movement in Switzerland. Since his acceptance into this group,
Colini's work has travelled to the major cities of Switzerland, West
Germany and France.

Finally in the year 1975 Colini was accepted as a member in the
prestigious "Kunstlergilde e.V" in West Germany. This important success
opened the doors to the German art scene and Colini began to exhibit in
the Gallery Koelner Kunst Kabinett, Gallery Scholler, and Gallery
Blankenborgh. His work was accepted in the prominent "Inter Art Galerie -
Cologne" and he joined "Phainesthai" a group of Koeln artists. He took
active part in the evolution of the organization into the "Gruppe 82 Koeln".

He feels comfortable among his colleagues, enjoys the company of his
friends, and participates every year in the "Salon D'Automne" in Cologne.
Thus the transplant from "Koeln uff der Elbe" to "Koeln am Rhein"
successfully took place and everything turned out fine...

Words by Colini on the occasion of
his one-man tribute at the Kolin Museum

At the end, when one comes through the full circle, one should arrive
where one started. That is why I am so grateful for the chance to have the
retrospective exhibition of my works in this august location, because it
gives me the opportunity to finish my career where it began, on the shores
of our river, within the sight of our cathedral. This is a rare privilege.

At this point, we should pause perhaps for a while and remember the faces
of the comrades who started with us on the road many years ago, but who
finished much too early or ended on distant shores... I was going to say
how nice it would be if they would be here now, with us -- implying they
are not here with us -- however, I wonder, can anybody really leave Kolin?

A Video Perspective of Colini

← Click to view full-screen

This video contains excerpts from a documentary tribute to the life of Colini, currently in progress. Used by permission.